Tag Archives: arc: grr

Dropping Like Flies by H.L. Day (Paranormal Problems: Necromancers Book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ Dropping Like Flies

AUTHOR: ⟫ H.L.Day

SERIES: ⟫ Paranormal Problems: Necromancers Book #2

RATING: ⟫4.5 /5

BLURB: ⟫ Quickest way to catch a killer? Bring the victim back and ask who did it. Only, nothing’s that easy.

When the bodies of young gay men start piling up in London, DCI Ben Weaver would do anything to bring the massacre to an end. Well, almost anything. He didn’t have the powers-that-be recruiting a necromancer on his bingo card. Or who that necromancer would turn out to be.

Griffin doesn’t want to work for CID, but then he has little interest in most things these days unless it involves getting drunk. Especially if it brings Ben back into his life. Ben might be his fated mate, but Griffin refuses to dance to fate’s tune. Not when guilt still gnaws away at him.

Stopping Satanic Romeo from claiming any more victims requires teamwork. But as they try to navigate their feelings and work out the killer’s endgame, he might already have them in his sights.

Who’s hunting who?

Dropping Like Flies is book 2 in the Paranormal Problems trilogy but can be read as a standalone. It features a necromancer bond stronger than most, a killer with a liking for fingers and not in a good way, and two men far better together than they are apart.

Content warning for murder, violence and suicide.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a cracking story! Griffin is a necromancer who for reasons not explained initially broke things off with his fated mate, Ben. Ben works for CID and has a serial killer he desperately needs to catch. Ben’s boss has the brilliant idea of getting a necromancer ask one of the victims about his murderer and just his luck, Griffin is the man called in.

It sounds really simple but it’s actually pure genius. Trying to solve the case whilst dealing with the tension between Ben and Griffin was engrossing, and the more I heard about the PP, the more I wanted to know. I knew this was book two (although it can be read as a standalone quite successfully) but I downloaded book one as soon as I finished reading the ARC because I really want to read more about what happens in this verse.

I’m not used to reading a police/paranormal procedural from H.L. Day although I have enjoyed other stories from them, but I am really chuffed that they branched off into this area. The story was fast paced, the romance and sex was grounded in reality with the perfect twist of fated mates and mysticism, with a storyline that seems to follow on from book one but the over-arcing plot-line doesn’t get in the way. Perfect way to spend a Saturday evening reading this and looking forward to spending Sunday reading book one!

I received an ARC from GRR.

Taylor-Made for Me by K.C. Wells

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TITLE: ⟫ Taylor-Made for Me

AUTHOR: ⟫ K.C. Wells

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Cupid ran out of arrows – so he used a luggage cart…

Will Bryant Gets Roped In

It’s only for one night—well, a weekend, actually.

Becca Taylor needs a fake fiancé to take to her parents’ anniversary party. All Will has to do is shake hands, smile on cue, and act as if they’re totally in love. No problem.

They get there, they’re holding hands in the hotel lobby, and then BAM. Something heavy plows into Will’s back, and suddenly he’s flying, only to be greeted by the most gorgeous guy he’s ever seen.

Aiden Taylor Gets Attacked By The Green-Eyed Monster

It was a total accident. Aiden’s hand slipped.

Okay, it sort of slipped. He wanted to scratch his sister Becca’s eyes out. Her fiancé is freaking perfect, but not for her—for Aiden. And he did try to warn Will, especially since Aiden wasn’t aiming for him in the first place. So now he’ll spend the rest of the weekend trying to make it up to Will.

Then everything snowballs, and now there are plans for a wedding that was never supposed to happen. Becca is panicking, her girlfriend is distraught, Aiden is confused…

And the more time Will spends around Aiden, the more convinced he becomes that he’s (accidentally) engaged to the wrong Taylor.

REVIEW: ⟫ Okay, there is a fair amount of suspending belief required for reading this story. Initially, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the premise – the set up seemed rife for what could be conceived as cheating and I was interested in seeing how the author was going to work around that.

The story made me laugh more than once, especially at Will’s internal musings – his view on his best friend’s behaviour was entertaining to say the least. I enjoyed meeting the family and their interactions – it reminded me of Christmases spent with my own very large family. I’m not generally a fan of pranks, which might have affected my viewpoint on quite a chunk of the storyline, but overall I quite enjoyed reading this. It was entertaining watching as Becca failed time and time again to take the chances offered to her, with Will in the background face-palming and Aiden plying him with alcohol! Light-hearted (with zero cheating), some lovely family moments and a nice romance with a little bit of steam. Definitely worth a read.

I received an ARC from GRR.

His Captor by MM Farmer (Omegas After Dark Book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ His Captor

AUTHOR: ⟫ MM Farmer

SERIES: ⟫ Omegas After Dark Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Indulging in a Dark Fantasy can lead to deep consequences in reality…

Hayden

It wasn’t my first time indulging in that particular fantasy. I was on a business trip and looking for something fun. I didn’t plan on going into heat while playing around, or to like the alpha I played with so much.

I also didn’t expect to end up pregnant.

And what I really didn’t expect was for that anonymous alpha I played with to end up being my boss at my new job…

Mace

Playing with a cute omega from out of town was supposed to be a test of the new security tech I’d been developing. It wasn’t supposed to end with me cutting ties with my old, crooked business partner and starting a whole new company in Barrington. It also wasn’t supposed to leave me wishing I’d gotten the real name and phone number of my omega playmate.

They say be careful what you wish for. Now, not only is Hayden back in my life with all his charm and feisty spirit, he’s carrying my baby. And I’m his boss.

And because of me, the cute omega I’m falling hard and fast for is in danger from my ex-business partner, who is out for revenge…

Omegas After Dark is an omegaverse mpreg story set in the same world as the lighter, fluffier Bangers & Mash series, but it deals with much more intense subject matter. Sink into the underworld of Barrington in all its super-hot glory, but don’t say you weren’t warned!

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a fun, quick read, and despite the subject matter there wasn’t a huge amount of sex! We originally met Hayden in His Hunter and I remember him being a very fun character. This story gives more background and fills him out into someone quite interesting. I loved the fact that Hayden didn’t try to pretend he wasn’t aware of what happened, and once he knew that he was pregnant, he moved on with his life. I really enjoyed the back characters we got to meet during this story, as well as catching up with Ari and Samson.

The industrial espionage/threat was well written and interesting, especially with the introduction of a character near the end of the book. I must admit, I laughed when Hayden was proved correct about Colin – a more deserving fate I cannot imagine! I thought the ‘toys’ the Ace used during their torrid weekend were absolutely fascinating and can only imagine how they could be put to use in a wider community!

I’m glad that I read this one and can recommend if you are in the mood for some kinky spice and a little light threat to your story. I received an ARC from GRR.

The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt (Subpar Heroes Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ The Accidental Necromancer

AUTHOR: ⟫ Liv Rancourt

SERIES: ⟫ Subpar Heroes Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Last Year—yes, it was so bad it needs to be capitalized—continues to haunt Brandon. A fresh start in a new town should have been the solution, but the memories follow him everywhere, in the form of undead roadkill he can’t seem to stop conjuring.

And Brandon’s growing posthumous pet problem is attracting attention. At least Stefanos, the paranormal veterinarian who offers to help him, is cute.

Who even knew paranormal veterinarians were a thing?

The resurrected animals are bad, but the wraith who starts dogging—pun intended—Brandon’s every step is far, far worse. This unwilling necromancer will have to figure out how to put Last Year behind him if he ever wants to find peace in the warm and willing veterinarian’s bed.

The Accidental Necromancer is a part of the multi-author Sub-Par Superheroes MM romance series. This book is set in the same world as The Richmond Vampire, though it features different characters. Mack and Bellafleure will be back in an upcoming book, because there’s definitely more to their story!

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a quick, fun read, with an interesting premise and storyline that was easy to get into. I enjoyed the quick introduction to SPAM, as well as the background on what happened to Brandon in the past to make him so scared of his new-found power. It was fun catching the snippets of information on supernatural creatures existing alongside unknowing humans, and I found Stef to be a very human character – he wasn’t the perfect knight in shining armour, showing signs of a quick temper and a slightly judgemental attitude on occasion. It was a little frustrating sometimes with Brandon’s refusal to discuss his past – it obviously affected him deeply and also bore some relevance to the situation they all found themselves in, so sharing that information could have been really helpful.

I liked the interactions between Layla and Greg, and the animals were incredibly cute, especially Sparky. This is the first story I have read by this author but I will definitely look out for more from them. I received an ARC from GRR.

Twincerely Yours by Eden Finley (Franklin U 2 Book #8)

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TITLE: ⟫ Twincerely Yours

AUTHOR: ⟫ Eden Finley

SERIES: ⟫ Franklin U 2 Book #8

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ EMMETT

My twin brother and I have gotten ourselves into a lot of messes growing up. We would constantly switch places to escape consequences while protecting each other at every cost.

But sleeping with Ben’s professor is a whole new level of mess, because there’s something Jonah doesn’t know. He might have been Ben’s professor last semester, but the person he was lecturing wasn’t Ben. It was me.

JONAH

From the moment I meet Emmett, I know he looks familiar but I can’t pinpoint where from. It’s not until I see his twin brother in the quad that I put two and two together.

Dating the sibling of one of my ex-students isn’t a huge problem for me, but I can’t help thinking the twins are hiding something.

The more time I spend with Emmett, the more I fall for him, but as my insecurity grows, so does my worry that I’m being played.

When my heart and my gut tell me two different things, I don’t know which to trust. My gut tells me to cut and run, but my heart won’t let me. Even though I’ve been telling myself to hold back, it’s too late. I’m already in too deep.

REVIEW: ⟫ If you told me that I’d be crying at the end of this book, I wouldn’t have believed you.

Emmett and Benny have well and truly got themselves into a mess, but this book shines the light on Emmett. There are depths to his character that haven’t previously been seen – his need to have one thing just for him, to be seen as himself – it really touched my heart and was a theme throughout the book. I mean, how incredibly difficult to be someone else for six months with little to no break? I also couldn’t see how he and Jonah were going to get their happily ever after – someone was going to suffer and it kinda felt so incredibly unfair. Yes, Emmett and Benny made bad decisions but they weren’t being malicious. Part of what I enjoyed was that Eden didn’t try to lessen what the twins had done – nor allow them to avoid the consequences.

I really found Jonah and Emmett to be special, with a sincere desire for the other to be happy and safe. There was a section where they are spooning and take turns and my heart just melted. This was a steamy, sexy. Heart-felt romance, with a lot of family and history, as well as new beginnings. Definitely one of the best of Franklin U 2 that I have read so far. I received an ARC from GRR.

Tongue-Tied by Christina Lee (Franklin U 2 Book #6)

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TITLE: ⟫ Tongue Tied

AUTHOR: ⟫ Christina Lee

SERIES: ⟫ Franklin U 2

RATING: ⟫ 3.75/5

BLURB: ⟫ Confessing feelings for your best friend takes being tongue-tied to a whole new level.

AUSTIN

Dex has always been my best friend, so it’s no surprise that we attend Franklin U together. We’re complete opposites. Dex is charismatic and outgoing. Me? Let’s just say I wish I could infuse some of his confidence into my veins. Making friends is hard enough, but trying to meet guys, even with Dex’s help? I’m useless. Maybe it’s because Dex is all about hooking up, but I want my first time to be straight out of the pages of the romance novels I read.

DEX

After a string of mishaps, I swore off helping Austin land guys. But when he asks me to show him the ropes with practice sessions, I get the feeling he’s desperate. Our dates are pretend, so why am I getting so into them? I want to make Austin happy, but the line between friendship and something more is getting really damned blurry. The fluttery feeling, that electric energy every time we touch…it’s addicting. I’m getting overprotective, not only of my time with Austin, but with douchebags who might break his heart.

Eventually, the pretending has to end so Austin can strike out on his own. But how do I tell him I’m not ready to let him go, when every attempt at confessing leaves me tongue-tied?

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a friends to lovers story in its’ most purest form. Dex and Aus have been friends for what feels like forever and despite their very different personalities and experiences, they are the very best of friends. When Dex moves out of their shared accommodation, they have to make more of an effort to spend time together and it makes them both appreciate the other even more.

Austin wants to move on with his love-life – or rather, start to actually have a love life – and as his best friend, Dex steps up to help him gain the confidence to get out there and find his man. What begins as a sweet attempt to help out turns into a series of dates and situations that make both of them realise just how much the other one is their person. But the big question is whether or not they take the risk on their friendship in order to have something more.

This was a very sweet story, with two young men who don’t want to lose what they have together who don’t realise how much they already share, with a group of friends who are rooting for them, and some nicely steamy moments. I received an ARC from GRR.

Their Wicked Ways by Willow Dixon (Crimson Club #6)

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TITLE: ⟫ Their Wicked Ways

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Dixon

SERIES: ⟫ Crimson Club Book #6

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ A year ago I lost everything and moved across the country to try and start over. It wasn’t easy, but I found a job I love, I have friends who’ve become my family, and I’m ready to start exploring my bisexuality.

Just when I think things are finally starting to go my way, I show up to work and find out the new guys on the crew are the super-hot couple I hooked up with last weekend.

F*ck. My. Life.

Now I’m stuck spending my days with the men who not only popped my dude cherry, but the ones I can’t stop thinking about.

The ones I have to try and be friends with after they awakened a part of me I didn’t even know was there.

The ones I can never have again.

Until one night turns into two, then more.

Being with Ezra and Wesley feels right, even if everything I was taught tells me it’s wrong. I can’t deny the pull between us, or how safe and seen they make me feel.

But how can two men who love each other as much as Ez and Wes ever feel the same for me?

REVIEW: ⟫ I wasn’t sure what I was expecting from this story – turning a couple into a throuple isn’t always easy without making the third person seem like an add-on, and I was interested to see how this would develop.

From the beginning, this book was steamy and hot – Wes and Ez are a powerful duo and with the addition of Jett, things just got hotter. But what I actually found I enjoyed the most was the respect each of them showed each other, how willing they were to be vulnerable and honest. They each truly valued communication and it showed in the way they were together. It wasn’t all sweetness and light, and I appreciated those moments – for example, how Jett grew up, their individual coming out stories, etc. It was great to catch up with the rest of the crew and characters that I have read about previously.

This was a sexy, thoughtful read, with a believable duo to throuple, a lot of communication, honesty and vulnerability. For these reasons, it might well be my favourite of the Crimson Club stories. I received an ARC from GRR. . I received an ARC from GRR.

The Captive's Curse by Eliot Grayson (Twilight Mages Book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ The Captive’s Curse

AUTHOR: ⟫ Eliot Grayson

SERIES: ⟫ Twilight Mages Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Unwanted. Unloved. Unransomed. And unable to control his dawn magic by any other means…

At odds with his family and on the run, Lord Cyril is taken prisoner and held in a gloomy mountain fortress—which he brightens up quite a bit, thank you. His captor wants him to be quiet and not cause any trouble, but who cares? Cyril may need the mysterious highwayman to quell his dawn magic and keep him sane, but he’s overbearing, sardonic, and unpleasant.

Mostly. Except when Cyril can’t live without his touch, or his voice, or his rare smile…

Ser Enzo, a robber and (not quite) a gentleman, desperately wants his obnoxious, adorable, irritating, irresistible captive off his hands…and other parts. Lord Cyril’s wanton, irrepressible, and worst of all—his family won’t take him back. Enzo can’t release him without being paid. It’s against his principles.

But so is keeping his bewitching captive forever. Cyril may be his prisoner, but Enzo’s dangerously close to losing his own freedom by falling under the mage’s spell…

The Captive’s Curse is the second book in the Twilight Mages series, but it takes place concurrently with book one and can be read as a standalone. Contains wildly inappropriate discussions of vegetables (no vegetables were actually harmed in the making of this book), the mad ghost of an evil lord (the Mad Lord is harmed, to no one’s regret), and the overcoming of fears, family quarrels, and scheming villains to reach a guaranteed HEA.

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh my good Lord, Cyril is a complete and utter menace and I loved everything about him!! I have been looking forward to this story ever since I read the first Twilight Mages story and I am so happy to report that it is actually BETTER than the first one!

Cyril was such a character – misunderstood, lonely and in need of purpose and how bizarre that it took being kidnapped for him to find his people. Quick-witted, hot tempered and stronger than he gives himself credit for, Cyril not only makes the most of the opportunities presented by his kidnapping, but firmly makes a home for himself amongst a group of people that he could never have expected to encounter.

Enzo was the epitome of the hulking ruffian with a heart of gold and a sense of humour that more than matched Cyril’s. The different names he endowed Cyril with cracked me up, and the way he made love to Cyril was absolutely perfect. These two were filthy in the best possible way and I loved the entire story.

Quite obviously a 5/5 from me and I highly recommend this to anyone who likes high heat, masses of humour and a healthy dose of plot without being too heavy.

His Hunter by MM Farmer (Omegas After Dark Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ His Hunter

AUTHOR: ⟫ MM Farmer

SERIES: ⟫ Omegas After Dark Book #1

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ The Dark Fantasy Club can make your wildest dreams come true…

Ari

An arranged marriage to a first-class, high-society jerk means that my life as I know it is just about over. The wedding is only weeks away, so I only have one chance to give myself a memory I won’t ever forget. Through the Dark Fantasy Club, I’ve found an alpha who can fulfill my primal fantasy of being chased through the forest, captured, and taken through heat in the most brutal way possible, just like I’ve always dreamed about.

Falling hard for my alpha hunter was not part of the deal, though…

Samson

I moved to Barrington to get away from bad memories of my time on the force, working in the Missing Persons Unit. But even as an ex-cop, I need to get my rocks off somehow, and the Dark Fantasy Club is perfect for that. Ari is the perfect fantasy partner, too. But the more I learn about his reasons for contracting me for play, the more I want to help him in reality.

And when our fake danger turns very, very real as we discover we’re not alone in the forest, I might just have to be the savior he’s needed all along….

Omegas After Dark is set in the same world as the lighter, fluffier Bangers & Mash series, but it deals with much more intense subject matter. Sink into the underworld of Barrington in all its super-hot glory, but don’t say you weren’t warned!

REVIEW: ⟫ Well this was quite the adventure! I was expecting the steam and it was there almost immediately. Ari is in the awful position of being an omega being married off by his family. But he wants one last adventure before he settles down into married hell.

Samson has seen far too much of the dark side of people. Taking contracts for ‘dark fantasies’ is the only thing he wants to bring with him to his new life. And the contract with Ari ticks all of his boxes.

The primal fantasy played out very well, with a lot of begging, pleading, exclamations of mine and satisfaction on both sides. But it pretty much immediately becomes obvious that what these two have together goes far beyond the fantasy but how exactly do they find their happily ever after when Ari has to return to reality? What follows is an adventure that the two of them fall into featuring people that they could never have expected and with potentially life threatening consequences.

The story was well written and enjoyable, with a palpable chemistry between Samson and Ari and an engaging darker storyline. I have read previous stories by this author and was pleased to have read this instalment. It will be interesting to see how further entries in this series turn up the darker aspect of things.

The Husband Experience by Maya Jean (Sweet Southern Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ The Husband Experience

AUTHOR: ⟫ Maya Jean

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

SERIES: ⟫ Sweet Southern #1

BLURB: ⟫ Elijah

Being a fake boyfriend is usually pretty easy. My part time job slots perfectly into my schedule as I pursue my PhD. But when the agency sends me on a week-long vacation to play husband … I don’t expect the experience to feel the opposite of fake. Colby Smith is everything I never knew I needed. He’s sweet, he even blushes, but in the bedroom, he calls all the shots. This experience is supposed to be for him, but as time goes on, I think it’s starting to be real for me.

Colby

After losing my husband, my cousin recommended I reach out to The Boyfriend Experience to get back in the saddle, so to speak. I asked for a husband for a week and they sure delivered. Elijah Ruiz is wild, in a way that shakes my world to the core. But after a week of tender touches, of breathtaking smiles, I start to wonder if it’s really all an act. Can we make this something real after only a week of playing pretend?

The Husband Experience is the 36k novella that starts the Sweet Southern series. It features a professional fake boyfriend, a ready for love again widower, an age gap, fake husbands for a week by the beach, lots of swoon, emotional steam, and just a sprinkle of kink.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a very sweet, sexy novella that acts as a very good introduction to the planned Sweet Southern series. Colby comes across as a self-aware man who has accepted the loss of his husband and is ready to re-enter the world of dating. However, he wants his first real experience to not be a random hook-up – he knows himself well enough to know that that is not how he operates. Hence the husband experience.

Eli comes across as a little less self aware. Initially with Colby, he tries to put up artificial barriers, constantly reminding the both of them that he is a ‘sure’ thing and doesn’t need the romance, etc that Colby keeps trying to offer. I really enjoyed the way in which Eli slowly let down his barriers and began to accept the affection and attention Colby was offering until the two men began to have an experience that perhaps neither of them fully expected. I was impressed with how much the author managed to pile into the novella, but obviously being that length it suffered a little from how ‘surface’ and superficial things had to be. I definitely enjoyed reading this story and will look for more from the Sweet Southern series.

I received an ARC from GRR.